Whitewater races take place near Millstream Gardens Conservation Area in Madison County.

If you’re looking for things to do in Missouri, visit Madison County. Located in the Saint Francois Mountains, our area features a perfect blend of rolling farmland and heavily forested hills with many creeks, rivers and lakes.

Nestled amongst this natural beauty are the historic towns of Fredericktown and Marquand, each offering a unique experience to adventurers in Madison County. Once you have been here, we are sure you will return often; remember to bring your camera to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of this unique area of Missouri.

Plan a float trip, go swimming, horseback riding, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and bird watching. If you’re a little more adventurous, try Zip and Dip at The Offsets or join the whitewater enthusiasts who come from several different states to kayak on the only whitewater in Missouri at Millstream Gardens.

The Missouri Whitewater Association Championship Races are held here every year in March. This year marks the 45th annual event on the St. Francois River. The race dates are March 17-19, 2012. A Race Clinic is held April 28-29 for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. This is a perfect opportunity to “get your feet wet” and see if kayaking might be to your liking. If you’d rather observe, this is also a fun spectator event. If golfing is your passion, visit Southern Oaks Country Club.

When you’re not out exploring the outdoors, you’ll want to enjoy the comforts of town. Madison County has a variety of fine restaurants, wineries, annual festivals, antique shops, art openings, dinner theater, and live music. Our unique historic towns and landmarks are yet another reason to travel to our county and offer an interesting window into Missouri’s past.

The First Friday of each month brings new artists and some type of additional event for the evening, such as entertainment, poetry or book readings, movies and … you’ll just have to plan your visit to see what is happening while you’re in Madison County. For additional entertainment, try Nelson’s Music City for a Branson-style show; Nelson’s is located on Highway 67 between Fredericktown and Farmington.

Remember to visit our website and the Area Events section for current and annual events to know what’s happening while you’re in town.